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Shaquile O’Neal
Shaquille O'Neal is done.
The four-time
NBA champion and one of the greatest basketball players of all time renounced his celebrity status in an interview with the
New York Post. The 7-foot-1 former
Los Angeles Lakers superstar, who is also one of the most recognizable athletes, is done with the glitz and glamour.
"These celebrities are going freaking crazy and I don't want to be one. I denounce my celebrity-ness today. I'm done with it," he told the
New York Post on Friday.
"I don't want to be in that category. Celebrities are crazy, they really are. Don't call me that anymore. These people are out of their freaking mind with how they treat people, what they do, what they say. That's never been me. I never want to be looked at like that."
Comment: The
original interview further reveals why Shaq doesn't want to be associate with celebrities:
"I came from nothing," he said. "But, just because I made it doesn't mean I'm bigger than you, smarter than you — just because I have more money doesn't mean I'm better than you. I've never been that way and I never will be that way. So I don't want to be in that category of people.
"When they talk about Shaq, what do you say? 'He's a nice guy.' Because what else can you be? You're either nice or you're the A-word, and I definitely won't be looked at as the A-word," he said.
"I want people to say, 'Bro, he's nice. He didn't have an entourage. His people didn't take my phone because I took a picture and threw it.'"
Shaq may have some
strange and
wrong opinions. But society would do well to take after him in valuing the virtues of kindness, generosity, and humility more than status, money, and one's image.
Comment: The original interview further reveals why Shaq doesn't want to be associate with celebrities: Shaq may have some strange and wrong opinions. But society would do well to take after him in valuing the virtues of kindness, generosity, and humility more than status, money, and one's image.